Carter (Thomas, fl. 1729-1795) Attributed to. Portrait bust, traditionally understood to be the architect William Adam (1689-1748), showing a man in an open necked shirt with buttoned coat beneath drapery, furrowed brow, long pointed nose and thin downturned lips, marble, inscribed verso ''Sir Isaac Newton/ By Roubiliac', 55 cm (21 1/2 in), on a turned socle, total height approx. 67 cm (26 1/4 in), a few small nicks to edges of drapery and elsewhere, [circa 1740]

⁂ Formerly identified as Isaac Newton and attributed to Louis-Francois Roubiliac (1702-1762), with presumably later inscriptions verso. There are variant bust versions on William Adam's tomb in Greyfriars Church Edinburgh, and an example held in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery; the latter is attributed to Henry Cheere (1702-1781). Both, however, appear to show a slightly younger William Adam than the present bust portrait. [See John Fleming, Robert Adam and his circle, 1962, p. 324].

William Adam was born near Kirkcaldy in Fife, and went on to become the most prolific and distinguished Scottish architect of the early eighteenth century, designing and building numerous country houses and public buildings, and often acting as contractor as well as architect. His individual, exuberant style built on the Palladian style, but with Baroque details inspired by Vanbrugh and Continental architecture. Particularly renowned for his design of country manors such as Hopetoun House and Duff House (the latter of which now displays part of the National Galleries of Scotland’s collection), William’s architectural legacy was eclipsed only by that of his son." [National Galleries of Scotland].